The Elite Compact comes with horticultural glass as standard as traditionally greenhouses have been glazed with this to keep costs low. Panes are 2ft x 2ft overlapping and joined with S clips.

We recommend upgrading to toughened glass which is a much safer option. This is much stronger glass, better able to withstand damage from children playing ball or accidents when someone falls against the glass.

The Elite Compact greenhouse includes an integral aluminium base as part of the design. Aluminium is maintenance free, rustproof and immune to the warping and rotting that comes with wooden greenhouses. This not only provides an incredibly strong foundation but also allows your greenhouse to be erected simply onto firm, level soil – so there’s no need for an expensive concrete base. Once erected, ground anchors are concreted into position. The Elite Compact can also be erected onto a hardstanding of concrete or paving slabs, in which case the flat bottom lip is drilled and screwed down with the appropriate fixings. The Elite Compact includes a low threshold door, which removes the base from the doorway, leaving just a low guide for the door.

Every Elite greenhouse that leaves the factory is made with care and attention to detail, and backed by a 10 year guarantee – so you know that you are buying a product that can be enjoyed for years to come.

This greenhouse has an integral base, so all it requires is a flat, level area. But everyone’s garden is different, so here are some questions and answers that you may find helpful.

Q. Can this greenhouse be sited directly onto my garden? A. The integral base is designed to fit straight onto soil, however you will need a hard support under the door sill as it will naturally follow the contour of the ground. You must secure the greenhouse by concreting in the ground anchors. If you are siting it on a lawn then be sure to take the top level of turf off. Cut the lawn back at least a spade width all round so that you don’t have grass growing right up to the edge of the greenhouse. You could fill this area with shingle.

Q. What about laying slabs round the perimeter for the base to sit on?A. This is becoming increasingly popular. Ideally this would include a path down the centre.

Q. Can I erect the greenhouse on a paved patio or concrete area?A. Certainly, but you must make sure that it is completely level and flat. Exact greenhouse base dimensions can be provided.

Q. What about a brick surround?A. A brick plinth is a good idea if the base needs to be built up because the ground is not level. Give thought to the height of the doorway as you want to try and avoid having a raised step if at all possible. Do not build brick surrounds before you have the dimensions from ourselves or Elite.

Q. How do I fix the greenhouse down?A. You will be supplied with soil fixings as well as hardstanding brackets.Soil - dig a hole at each point and concrete the ground anchors into position.Slabs, concrete or brick plinths - drill and secure the anchor brackets supplied with your kit. Note that the drill bit is not included.

Q. Is drainage a problem?A. You’ll be sloshing a lot of water about inside the greenhouse all year round so it is a very good plan to allow this to drain away rather than sit in puddles inside the greenhouse. For further information, please contact service@greenhousesdirect.co.uk

We firmly believe that our prices are the best around – but, if you’ve seen the same thing cheaper elsewhere, please get in touch straight away so we can match or beat the price.

Upgrade options

The Elite Compact comes in a wide range of colours, as well as a natural aluminium finish. Colours are applied at the manufacturing stage using a powder coating process. This creates a hard wearing and lustrous finish, which is chip resistant, maintenance free, and designed to last the lifetime of your greenhouse.

Glazing Options

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As standard, Elite greenhouses are supplied with 3mm horticultural glass. However, whilst low in cost, there is a sacrifice of safety and today the trend is towards safer and stronger glazing alternatives. Two glazing upgrade options are offered.

Twin wall polycarbonate has the advantage that it offers increased insulation, which may be useful in the winter months. It does, however, suffer from two major disadvantages. Polycarbonate is so light that it makes the greenhouse vulnerable to wind damage and it also reduces light levels, which can be a problem for your plants.

Toughened 3mm glass is the best option as it offers a good degree of safety, should an accident occur. The large panes have no overlaps, which means fewer draughts and they are easier to keep clean as the overlaps can tend to attract dirt and algae over time.

Bar Capping provides a better hold for the glazing and adds a decorative finish.

Bar capping is a cosmetic addition to the glazing method. The plastic cap covers the stainless steel ‘W’ shaped retaining clips in order to enhance the appearance of your greenhouse. So if you are ordering an Elite with one of the attractive coloured finishes, bar capping would be the perfect addition as it comes in colours to match your frame choice.

The addition of a 5 blade louvre draws fresh air in at different levels and encourages air circulation.

Colour

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Good ventilation is vital in a greenhouse, not just to reduce heat in summer but also for good circulation. A good flow of air around the greenhouse protects against diseases caused by humid and stagnant air.

The right combination of roof vents and side louvres allows you to take complete control of your ventilation. Air can enter from the side, circulate up through the greenhouse and hot air escapes out the top. Ideally fit more than one louvre to all but the smallest greenhouse and fit as many roof vents as you can.

Roof vents also work best in conjunction with automatic roof vent openers which are solar powered, very reliable and absolutely brilliant at regulating the temperature. Fit one per roof vent.

It really is worthwhile ordering extra ventilation along with your greenhouse, as it is much cheaper and easier to fit before your greenhouse is up.

There is a huge range of customisation options available for the Elite range of greenhouses including additional sizes, extra doors, hybrid panels, drop door options and partitioning for applicable sizes - to name but a few! So if you can’t see what you are looking for, or have an exact specification in mind, call our sales team with your requirements on 0800 694 1929.

The Elite Diamond Series range provides any Elite Greenhouse with a versatile and practical staging solution.

Made from extruded aluminium it can be fitted to any Elite greenhouse or lean to and provides a ‘fixed’ staging which can fit the full width or length of the greenhouse, giving a neater finish. With diagonal support, your work space is increased through allowing for additional storage room beneath the staging. It will also provide added benefits for wheelchair users.

The Elite Modular Freestanding Staging is a very flexible staging option to use, making it easy to get the perfect working space. Made from aluminium it provides a great solution for those wanting a bit more flexibility.

Elite also offer a seedrack made in the UK to the same standards as all Elite products. These aluminium frames come in two sizes, either three or five tiers, to hold 9 or 15 seed trays. Seed trays are included to get you germinating and growing straight away.

Can be used for the simple collection of rainwater from your greenhouse. 100 ltr capacity.

Every Elite greenhouse comes with integral gutters, so why not add downpipes and collect and use the rainwater that your plants love.

Choose from either a standard rainwater kit, which has all the fixings for both sides of the greenhouse, or a two-in-one kit which joins two pipes at the rear of the greenhouse and allows both gutters to feed into one water butt.